Captain's Log, Stardate 21509.7 This past Friday I set my course for Did Z Akins in La Mesa -- a roadside star on I‑8 that my crew and I had passed a thousand times but never boarded. At long last we beamed down, and the experience surpassed every expectation. From the moment we entered, the atmosphere felt like coming home to a welcoming starbase. The staff treated us with genuine warmth and patience as we navigated a menu full of storied classics. Their attentive service turned a simple meal into a memorable mission. My first officer aka wife enjoyed a superbly composed salad, and chose the Turkey Club -- both delivered with thoughtful care. I began with the biscuits and gravy, a traditional hit that tasted like comforting shore leave. But the true highlight was the patty melt: perfectly seared, with lush caramelized onions and melted cheese that achieved harmony at warp speed. It was, without hyperbole, the best patty melt I've encountered in this quadrant. Each bite was a cascade of flavor that felt like discovering a thriving new world. This kitchen knows how to respect ingredients and execute classics flawlessly. No extra condiments were necessary -- the craftsmanship spoke for itself. DZ Akins is now a plotted course for every future convoy through I‑8. Highly recommended for anyone seeking honest, stellar diner fare and service that treats you like family among the stars. Captain 619, stay salty my friends! read more

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On 7 May this year, roughly somewhere in the late afternoon closer to the evening, my grandpa and I stopped by here because, well... we needed something to eat. We figured this restaurant would serve us well for what it's worth. We had since discovered that depending on which section you were seated on, you may or may not get lacklustre service. This visit was such the latter case. Our waitress, who I believed to be named "Charlotte", unless of course I absolutely misread or misremembered the name, did not seem to recognise nor care for us, despite the amount of dough we put into their entire business (outside of their souvenir shop). Long story short: she was incredibly slow to get our drinks, and even slower to take our order. Meanwhile, she was more than willing to give a much more expedient service and a pleasant conversation to other customers and even her co-workers. At first with the initial service, I was worried about when she'd get on over here within the first five or so minutes to take our drink orders. Heck, even when I requested a refill for my water, she told us "give me a few minutes" as loud and clear as it were. But it wasn't until we were eating where she promptly asked the table behind us for their drinks, AS SOON AS THEY WERE SAT DOWN. That's when I got absolutely infuriated, and felt that my suspicions about her unpleasant and passive-aggressive behaviour were proven to be true. Keep in mind: it was practically dead, not even remotely busy during that day and time of day, with only but about eight customers in TOTAL, including us. The food was okay, I will say, but this time, I just didn't feel like I could take on the whole food order like I usually had done in the past. Whether it was because I slurped too much of that shake, or because I was being treated very poorly with my friend, one would have to take a stab in the dark on that one. We left extremely bitter about the situation, and we even thought a $10 tip was far too generous for the terrible treatment we received from our waitress around that day; we usually tip much higher than that. I've since been very uneasy about coming here even to pick up some fresh bagels from the bakery. read more

Nice place to eat Great staff Pastrami omelette was a little dry. Waitress recommended that we cheese with it. Should have listen. My fault never pancake style omelette Blue muffin good. Fruit good. Bakery nice. Waitress was super nice and helpful. Will go back read more

This was my 1st visit here. Often pass by it on the freeway. This place is huge with a large dining area, bakery, and deli. The hostess was friendly and quickly sat us. Our server Veronica was very friendly and helpful. She recommended the Reuben sandwich which I ended up going with with a side of onion rings. The Reuben was okay for me compared to some really good ones that I've had. The onion rings were really good. My husband went with the Ortega roast beef with a side of steak fries. He really enjoyed it. The roast beef had good flavor. After we stopped at the bakery and bought some desserts to go. I'm excited to try the homemade ding dong. read more

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These wonderful people will treat you right and feed you well! Atmosphere is a real Jewish deli like you can find in LA. The lox, the pickled herring, the PERFECT medium rare roast beef, the whole roast chicken (which only costs $10.95!), all of them are must haves any time I'm in the vicinity of DZ Akins. read more

Stopped by DZ Akin's, a classic Jewish deli, because my boyfriend has a big sweet tooth and wanted to try their bakery items and wow, their menu is huge! He loved everything we picked out, especially the German chocolate ding dong, carrot cake, and cannolis. It does get pretty busy but you take a number and wait to be called to order. The line does move along pretty quickly. We also tried the lox bagel. It had a generous amount of cream cheese, just wasn't my personal favorite, but I'm definitely excited to come back and try more. The staff was friendly too. One of the ladies joked we'd be back the next day, and while it wasn't the next day, we did come back a week later for more goodies. I've got my eye on the tres leches cake next, but heads up, they don't serve it by the slice. If you've got a sweet tooth, this is definitely a spot to check out! read more

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I ordered a Pastrami and Corned Beef sandwich add coleslaw. The flavor was good, but I was shocked by how little meat was in the sandwich, especially considering all the pictures that show big sandwiches. At about $24 for the sandwich with the added coleslaw on it, it was not worth it. The photo shows half the sandwich read more

DZ Akin's - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow, it took us a long time to finally try this place! We are about 1hr 20min depending on traffic from this place. We arrived around 6:30-7pm on a Friday. It was quite busy, it almost looked like a full house. As soon as you enter you will see the gift shop off to the right and in front is a deli case and bakery case. Off to the left you will find the cashier. We were seated just after a few minutes waiting at the cashier. I felt this area was congested with people coming from the deli/bakery section and then people coming to the register to pay for their meal. The decor is dated and the walls are lined with pic's of celebrities who had visited the restaurant. We were a bit overwhelmed with the menu. After few minutes of looking over the menu I went with the country steak with over easy eggs, steak fries and a bagel with cream cheese. I saw the list of desserts! I was looking forward to dessert! I'm glad I had ordered the gravy on the side. The gravy was not a flavor I was expecting. My husband liked it, and I liked his gravy for his meal. Not only was my gravy not the flavor I was looking to try on my Country Steak, but my Country steak was not crispy. Although the country steak had great flavor! The egg was cooked perfectly . I never did get my bagel during my meal but I did request to go. I had it the next morning and it was soft and the cream cheese was basic, but good. We were stuffed so we decided no dessert this time around. Service was good, it could have been better. Our server was busy and catered to the table behind us but only after dropping our food and checking with us one time. He lost us I think even though he served the table behind us. Thankfully he was nice because that could have affected the rating too. read more

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After three months I never heard back from DZ Akins. Poor management and zero follow up . Lifelong customers lost because of two sandwiches. Pitiful! read more

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The wife and I left the gym and were hungry so we went to DZ Akin's to get some breakfast, I'm born and raised in San Diego and have never eaten here so I wanted to give it a go. My wife ordered the French toast and I ordered the chicken fried steak and egg which came with home fries and the option of toast ,pancakes and biscuits and gravy so I went with the biscuits and gravy and a side of cornedbeef hash. The food was decent I loved the home fries not enough people doing that, the biscuits and gravy was good once you added hot sauce and everything else was just your typical diner fare . We were told the sandwhich special was a Reuben and it was normally priced at 22 dollars and it was 18 on Tuesdays so we grabbed it and that's the best thing there. So get the sandwhich and some home fries. read more

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Our family has dined here for decades and will keep coming back! We are obsessed with the pickles, Reuben, pastrami, sweet and sour soup, barley soup, and much more. Service is excellent! Our server this past visit was above and beyond with anticipating our needs by providing a larger booth for our party, timing was perfect for refills and service. Dining here feels like going to your family's house for some comfort home cooking. Always save room or plan to take a box of baked goodies home with you! Also gift shop is full of eclectic items for any occasion. read more

DZ Akin's - Interior - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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After experiencing excellent cold cut and salad platters from DZ Akin's at a funeral luncheon, we decided to meet friends here for dinner on a Sunday evening. There are several dining rooms with booths and tables, and a single cashier station for all payments. [Full Disclosure: We enjoyed the best Jewish delis when we lived back East and worked in Manhattan.] Based on recommendations, my wife looked forward to the Beef Liver and Onions (2/5 $21.95). It was a disappointment. The grilled beef liver was a generous amount smothered in grilled onions, but the liver was overcooked and dry. We asked for vegetables rather than mashed potatoes. They were undercooked and flavorless. I opted for a sandwich -- Hot Corned Beef, Swiss, Cole Slaw served open-faced on an onion roll with Russian Dressing (3/5 $20.95). Sorry to say, the corned beef was not hot, and melted Swiss cheese would an improvement. The onion roll was very good. I did enjoy the side of Potato Salad (4/5). Black coffee was weak (2/5), and our server was inattentive with refills. We asked our server about the cheesecake for dessert -- specifically, was it a true New York style cheesecake. She told us it was, and we ordered a slice to share with cherries to share. Sorry, but the Cheesecake (2/5 $11.95) was not authentic New York cheesecake ... and overpriced for the slice. Before leaving, we stopped at the deli cases and bought some Chopped Chicken Livers (3/5) and Cole Slaw (4/5) to go. So ... overall our experience with DZ Akin's has been Fair. It is more diner than Jewish deli. That said, however, we look forward to trying it for breakfast. read more

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The server makes all the difference. Darik was great and extremely helpful. He answered all of the questions. He made sure that the ice tea glasses were always filled. He had a terrific sense of humor. The food is still good. The portions are large. The latkes are not as good as home made. The sweet and sour cabbage soup was excellent. The potatoes knish is missing something. The sandwiches are very good. Darik made a nice night out with friends an easy experience. read more

DZ Akin's - Hotcakes at DZ Akins - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

DZ Akins of D.Z. Akin's Deli are Zvika and Debbie Akin, the married couple who founded the iconic San Diego Jewish deli in 1980. The "D.Z." in the name stands for their first names. This couple met in LA, where there are over a dozen Jewish delis but realized very few in San Diego and that's the beginning of the DZ Akins deli saga...from LA to San Deigo. This is my overdue review for my multiple visits to DZ Akins, a restaurant, deli, bakery and caterer in La Mesa, the eastern area of San Diego. Plenty of free parking in the lot. This deli has been here since 1980, has undergone some renovations to increase indoor seating but I did notice no windows and the low hanging ceiling which did not appeal to me and only heightened my claustrophobia. Although the diners were lively, it seemed crowded stuffy and lacked fresh air...not a particularly pleasant ambiance. I was glad there were umbrella shaded patio seating where I can enjoy the fresh air, blue skies and sunshine with my baby Fendi was a lovely ambience. Service staff and waitress were all accommodating, nice and helpful. This deli's claim of fame are their soups and sandwiches all New York deli style. My deli order usual: matzo ball soup, no noodles, no chicken, only matzo ball, carrots and broth. A pastrami overstuffed and sky high. After the first soup tasting, it hit the spot, so flavorful, yet clear and cleaning tasting. The matzo ball was made just right, with no taste of chicken fat, as I have tasted at other delis. The carrots cooked perfectly, not too soft or hard, looked and tasted fresh. The pastrami Reuben was half pastrami and corned beef, not too fatty, seasoned perfectly and just delish with a schmear of french mustard. Of course, I over ordered because my eyes are larger than my tummy, so I finished the soup but only had a bite of the sandwich and boxed it Togo. Next time, will order the half portions. Every time I was here, I order and eat first and had plans for a visit to the bakery. After feeling so full, I lost interest on ordering any more food, let alone goodies from the bakery, therefore cannot comment on it but if the food I had was delish , I have no doubt the baked goods are fantastic. Worth a visit. Recommend read more

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We want to bring more family here and walked around 6pm fairly busy in the dining rooms For a Monday night. Are server was Linda again and she was patient with everyone. The soup and bread came out first man a huge pile of butter was next to a stack of assorted breads. Gee's that soup chicken an dumpling was tasty and so good We tasted it Next time I'm getting the soup of the day We were 4 of us so it was Linda brought our drinks 3 root beers and waters for all I ordered Chicken Salad 1 scoop It was big And cole slaw lettuce and tomato's sliced all around 1 half of the salad with carrots and cucumbers I really was hungry I took home half and my bagel Our niece ordered the chicken melt That was big too She had a side salad She enjoy it too and our buddy ordered Chicken fried steak that steak was gone and a baked potato with all the fixing too We did Our niece got a new job was time to celebrate We got her a brownie we'll share tonite for dessert And cinnamon roll for her breakfast And we got peanut butter cookie And apple danish for our buddy For his coffee in the morning read more

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Had the breakfast special last week and came back for more! Last visit, Tonya waited on us but we didn't catch her name. I looked for her but did not see her immediately when being seated. We got seated in her section again! She is terrific!! She's fun, friendly and knows the menu! She says she has worked here for 29 years!! This time, we added the cinnamon roll and a cinnamon/raisin bun. OY VEY!! We will be back for those again, too! Love the vibe and the ambience, and of course the 5 star customer service!!!!! And I'll be sure to ask for Tonya next time!!! read more

DZ Akin's - Tonya is fantastic! Ask for her! She makes the dining experience really enjoyable and she has great recommendations!! - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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P I really like getting the pastrami sandwich here. It is really big so I split it with my friend. The service here is the best. These people have been working here for many decades. The ambience is like a Jewish deli. read more

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$100. 4 ppl. Famous Brunch. The plate was loaded and weighed about 8lbs. We didn't finish it. We only got 5 bagels and not 6, no biggie, but the server did us a solid when we asked to have the bagel cut twice and not just once. She did a good job with our table. When you walk over the threshold, expect to walk into the past. Pass the New York deli / bakery and into the old school diner. On the way out we stopped for a bag of bagel chips ($3.50). Woth it and do it again. Pro tip- light mist of olive oil and a dusting of shredded parm. Yum. Then got a 1lb box of cookies. ($13.+). That box didn't make it home safely. All the plates on the tables looked pretty darn good. "I'll be back...." read more

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Went to DC Akins this morning for breakfast. I had this special scrambled eggs, pancakes, two slices of bacon and a cup of coffee. My wife had two scrambled eggs, bacon, and French toast. Service was outstanding. The gal that helped us was very sweet and very quick and the food was excellent tasting. Ambience is that of an old restaurant with celebrities all over the wall. My only complaint was my meal was $9.99 and my wife's was $17.99. The difference was pancakes versus French toast. Then my coffee was half the price of my breakfast but I guess that's the way it's everywhere nonetheless we got out of there for about $35 can't do that anywhere else and the food service was great. read more

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I grew up in a Jewish area of NYC, so my food preferences were established early. I never expected to find a excellent, authentic NY deli in San Diego, but here it is Go for the pastrami, but also enjoy the latkes, the kasha varnishkes, and the NY cheesecake. read more

DZ Akins - We have often frequented this lovely little "restaurant with attitude" - ie. a wonderful attitude of "whatever the customer wants" and this time was no different. My hubby accidentally ordered the beef liver rather than Debbie's (the owner) famous chopped liver. When I came back to share that mistake he made, "Veronica" quickly rectified the situation with that 'can-do wherever you wish' attitude we appreciate now and always. read more

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Food: Ordered my fav. #97 Whitefish Salad Sandwich on toasted rye- tasted fresh, not too salty. Mac salad just right w/tangy dressing. Service: Server attentive, polite w/a gently efficient vibe. Hostess amenable to my choice of seating. Ambience: Familiar coziness in midst of mild cacophony enveloped by luscious bakery/deli temptations. Highly Recommended read more

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Food was tasteless!! Looked reasonable til you took a bite. Simple hamburger was so bland and undercooked. Pastrami sandwich was just ok. But not enough meat. Fries had no salt at all. Just really blah all the way around. Evep Soo disappointed! Service was minimal. Didn't even refill water glasses or ask if food was ok. Not worth the $!! Won't be back! read more

The service and food is not at all what it used to be. We noticed the other tables were greeted, served and provided the complimentary pickles as soon as they sat down. While we were waiting for our food, we asked the waitress if we could get a couple of the pickles and she didn't even look at us while we asked, body didn't even turn towards us, her back and side was towards us with her looking forward. It was weird to be honest. Also, don't let the piled meat fool you. They pile the meat in the middle of the sandwich and cut it, so the bread is completely empty and you have to take it apart and make it yourself to eat it somewhat normally. So so disappointing. read more

DZ Akin's - They put the meat in the middle and cut it... 8. Pastrami, Roast Beef and Swiss Cheese Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for the Passover Dinner and the meals were beyond terrible. Everything tasted old and like reheated canned food except for the matzah ball soup. Great service but to have such a terrible Passover dinner is honestly disappointing. For the price of the dinner we were expecting fresh food. read more

DZ Akin's - Passover Dinner - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

I give this plus an A . I almost gave it an A+. My server was friendly and knowledgeable. I told her exactly what I wanted a pastrami sandwich on rye with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing it came with the most magnificent fries. The sandwich was absolute perfection. The bread was fresh crispy crust and soft center. The pastrami was a lean flavorful. The coleslaw was not too sweet and complimented the sandwich perfectly the french fries were cooked golden brown and absolutely delicious. The only reason why I could not give an A+ is they serve diet Pepsi, I don't drink diet Pepsi, those who know what I'm talking about. It blows me away how so many quality restaurants serve Pepsi products and expect their customers the same as if it were a Coca-Cola product. I would come here again in a heartbeat the next time I'm in San Diego. It was phenomenal.! read more

There's two sides to this place. The restaurant and then the butcher / pastry / goods to take home / mini shop side. It's like all things in nice. Came late on a weekend near closing time and could've have been treated more warmly and nicely. Usually you're rushed in these situations but they told me to take my time and asked what taste was I feeling and started offing suggestions. Coming in from the pitch dark to the place which is very bright gave me a boost of energy. It is absolutely packed with energy and products. It's a U shape sized area with one side mostly for meats and sandwiches and the other side for pastries. Went with the Philly cheesesteak to go and a few pastries. The cheesesteak left a lot to be desired. I think it was overhyped up by the staff (I also have high standards being from the east coast). It was a bit dry in spots but I chalk it up to it mostly being end of service and that's the best you'll get. But overall, I just thought it was just average. It's supposed to be a combo of rich, savory, and creamy with a bit of tang and while at times it was there, it just never all came together unfortunately all in the same bite. Because they have over 100 sandwiches and 30 plus desserts easily, I'd definitely come back. Probably won't eat in the restaurant side but the mini mart side will see my face again. There's just too much to try! read more

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Their $9+ daily pancake breakfast is a good deal and they serve the best coffee in town!

I have been coming to DZ Akins now for 40+ years, I started when I was college. Every time i come back to San Diego i have to make a stop here this time did not disappoint. Back in the day, I would get the mini sandwich with soup. BTW, its no mini Sandwich and the bowl of soup is a large bowl of soup. Matzah ball soup was in order. Major YUM. But need to add salt. For my mini sandwich i always get liverwurst again YUM. Service was top notch, the place hasn't changed much if not at all which is a good thing. Now prices have gone up, but there are still bargains to be had here. The Mini Sandwich comes with Soup or a Salad for $19.90 and again the soup or salad are large in size, the mini sandwich part is a joke, so they cut a very small part of the top corner of the bread off and call it a mini. Lol. It's filling and delish. read more

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Classic, old school diner experience with good service, food, and reasonable pricing. I'm a Rueben aficionado, and we happened to eat there on a Tuesday - Rueben special day. It did not disappoint. I got it with Pastrami on the server's advice - next time corned beef for comparison. Their French fries were outstanding, but the Kosher pickles were little salty, even for Kosher - I don't know if they were supposed to be dill - couldn't taste any. SKIP THE BAKERY. we got a sampler that we picked out; I've been to really good bakeries & bad ones - this one was "meh". read more

Good food good service. I really enjoy to eat in this place. I definitely back again.

Big, bustling restaurant with extensive menu. I tried the soup with mini sandwich. I chose matzo ball and pastrami. Price was about 20 dollars before tax and tip. The matzo ball soup was okay though the broth was watery rather than a rich chicken broth. Very large matzo ball, noodles and three pieces of carrot. The pastrami sandwich was larger than I expected however the meat was cut very thin and was dry. Was not what I expected. I was looking forward to a fresh thickly cut pastrami (edged with delicious fat) sandwich typically found in a Jewish deli. I was surprised by the very thin slices and I also had to pick through the meat as some of it was what you would trim off before making a sandwich. The quantity of meat was more than expected for a mini sandwich. I asked for some pickles and was provided a bowl with four pieces of pickle. Two sour and two 1/2 sour. I was surprised that they didn't provide full pickles. The taste was good for the pickles. Service was good and the servers I encountered were working hard with positive attitudes. read more

Best Jewish style deli in San Diego. Big sandwiches. Large portions. Yummy soups. Don't miss the bakery lot of yummy choices. Service is always good. For brunch I love the corned beef hash read more

Dz Akins is the perfect place for breakfast, but they also have a full menu with lunch and dinner dishes. We went for breakfast and I enjoyed a chorizo omelette with home potatoes. Make sure to stop by the bakery/deli on your way out and grab some treats to go. You can also take a stroll through the gift shop. The service was super friendly, and the atmosphere gives you that cozy, home-cooked vibe. I definitely recommend giving Dz Akins a try. It's so good! read more

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i've lived in la mesa for 5 years and i've never been here, can't believe what i've been missing out on! i got the mishmash soup with chicken - it was amazing. they also give you bread and pickles before your meal and they were fantastic. i had to go to the deli afterward to get some of their pickles. my partner got the ted leather special on rye with potato salad. probably the best potato salad i've had from a restaurant. the sandwich was great too! huge portions. our waitress Bernice was so sweet, when she packaged my soup she even gave me extra broth. can't wait to take my kiddos here soon! read more

DZ Akin's - Mishmash soup with chicken - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Mentioned to server Linda I have dairy allergy Clearly linda server was in rush. We talked about cheese substitutions. I mentioned dairy allergy when ordering. After eating the Reuben sandwich I asked her if there was butter on bread. She took 6 mins after serving other persons to come back as I was about to leave. Never apologized but told me there is butter on bread. How's that for service? Then she insisted I never told her. Sorry but I tell the same thing to every restaurant. Come on do you job!! Beware the service is very rushed on Saturday. They don't seem to care if you have food Allergies. I ended up phone calling in manager to share my feedback and they took apologized and took care of me. read more

Such a neat deli to visit mid day for lunch! There was a cute gift shop and bakery that you walk through before reaching the hostess stand to be seated. The restaurant is big and filled with patrons. The menu was indeed overwhelming with variety. I need to go back and try other items when I'm not pressed for time. I opted for the ribeye medium rare; and my partner went with the chicken and waffles. Portions were huge, and tasted great! read more

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Totally delicious! I love the huge shareable sandwiches. I love big pickles. It's great! Stop by the bakery on the way out.

I love this place! I look forward to dining here when visiting the San Diego area. I have been planning my lunch here since my husband and I decided to go to San Diego. I intended to get the mini ethnic sampler and a cup of the chicken noodle soup (which I love), but as we were being seated I saw the Santa Fe salad on another diner's table, and knew that if I didn't order that I would be thinking about it our whole trip...so I got the salad. It did not disappoint! It was fresh, huge and yummy...I had it with 1000 island dressing since that is one of my favorite dressings. The soup was soooo good!!! My husband had a smoked turkey sandwich and onion rings. Sandwich so big, he could only finish half. My brother-in-law had a grilled cheese on rye with fries. Both indicated their lunches were great. Other reviewers have commented about the high prices and I agree that you can feel sticker shock if you're not adding up the total in your head before hand, but the portion sizes are so large that two can easily share a meal or leftovers can easily make another full meal. Service was quick and our server was very nice. The ambiance is typical cafe/diner. I can't wait to visit again... read more

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I went to DZ Akins today for dessert. I thought the black and white cookies was a ny thing but was surprised to see it here. I don't know if we got bigger or their desserts got smaller but I remember 6 adults not being able to finish a sundae. It took 2 adults and a teen and there was no struggle. read more

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